John Challen ponders something a little different for drivers’ titillation.

The Unimog is offered with a choice of two cabs, two engine options and the ability to haul up to 36 tonnes

Fans of big vehicles that go offroad – or, let’s face it, anywhere you want them too – are probably going to have a bit of a soft spot for the Unimog. A completely unrealistic choice for daily drivers – in most instances – but an essential item for numerous individuals and businesses around the country. Therefore, for some readers, the ‘fantasy’ element of this page’s title might be obsolete because Unimogs have played – and continue to play – a vital role for utility companies, local authorities and farmers.

More likely to be at home in the Highlands than the High Street, the Unimog is an imposing thing. Typically more than six metres long and more than 2.5m high, it certainly stands out from the crowd. In the UK, the heavy-duty 4×4 is offered with a choice of two cabs, two engine options (with five outputs between 156 and 299hp) and the ability to haul up to 36 tonnes. They certainly don’t shy away from main roads, but it’s in more rural settings that Unimogs are at their most impressive – and useful.

The Unimog story goes back nearly 80 years – the first prototype being developed in post-war Germany (1945) by Boehringer. Back then, it was designed to be used with various bits of agricultural equipment. As a traditional ‘tractor’ – of the farming variety – it ticked a lot of boxes, but had equal-sized wheels and fixings for attachments front and rear. As a result, it was ideally suited to use in farmer’s fields, but also out on the public roads (at more respectable speeds than farm tractors).

Just five years later, Mercedes-Benz got in on the act, having already supplied Boehringer with diesel engines from 1947. A production agreement between the two parties followed, the three-pointed star having seen the potential in the iconic vehicle. Then began a series of improvements and developments to the Unimog over the decades to improve driveability, comfort and off-road capabilities.

The current model entered production in 2013, with a redesigned cab, Euro VI engines and a top speed of 55mph. There are numerous appliances that can be fitted to the Unimog. In a relatively short space of time, the off-road king can go from being one of the world’s most powerful lawnmowers to a flat-bed truck. Coming up to winter and need a snowplough on the fleet? No problem, the German giant can handle that. Implement carrier, fire engine or rescue vehicle – the Unimog can do it all.

Last year, as it celebrated its 75th anniversary, further upgrades were made to the Unimog, such as a ‘comfort’ steering option and self-levelling suspension for the rear axle. These improvements show that, even as vehicles with gross weights of up to 14.5 tonnes, efficiency is still a big issue.

There is no doubting that the Unimog is capable and essential to some fleets. However, the sheer joy it brings to so many people when they see it, let alone drive it, is something to behold.

Price: From £100,000

Engine: 5.1-litre or 7.7-litre

Max Torque: 900Nm

Tyres (biggest): 477/70 R24

Connectivity: Snowplough, grass-cutter and many more options

Likelihood of making it onto the fleet? 2/10